Two new working groups of the Green Bond Principles will begin work next week, on defining greenness and on impact reporting. The move is part of the green bond market’s effort to define itself more clearly, partly in the hope that governments might ultimately subsidise it.

Last year the Markit iBoxx Euro Banks index was one of the outperforming bond sectors in Europe having returned 1%. The index, which is largely made up of bonds issued by European banks, even managed to outperform defensive sectors such as healthcare and utilities, while Europe’s regulatory oversight and relaxed monetary conditions kept market confidence in check.

Reports that Saudi Arabia has offered to cut oil production by up to 5% if Russia matched the cut resulted in a jump in oil prices to $35 a barrel on Thursday. Despite positive momentum in the markets, bankers say Middle Eastern issuers need a more sustained period of stability before venturing to market.

Metinvest has swerved a default of its Eurobond due January 31 after bondholders voted to approve a waiver which will enable the issuer to restructure its debt without triggering a cross-default clause.

Philippine homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes opted to tap its outstanding bond rather than sell a new deal on Wednesday due to challenging market conditions. Although pricing wasn’t as tight as expected, offshore investors were still keen due to its scarcity value and a lack of other primary supply.

The last week of January has so far been much the same as the rest of the month for European corporate bonds: an erratic backdrop and minimal issuance. This week, earnings blackouts are adding to the silence.

Panda bonds were thrust back into the limelight when the market was reopened by China in 2015 with many high profile issuers lining up to sell deals. But what are Panda bonds and why should you care? Here’s GlobalRMB’s quick guide to all you need to know.

The Chinese property sector has once again found itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons with Future Land Development Holdings saying on Friday that its chairman was being investigated by the authorities. While there was the inevitable bout of panic selling, the short time it took for things to stabilise shows a maturing market that is fast getting used to the complexities of the industry.

The opening shot for the race to save Abengoa from bankruptcy came on Monday from Alvarez & Marsal, the restructuring firm, and its plan to half the Spanish renewable energy company’s corporate debt to €4bn ­— now the board and creditors must approve the scheme before March 28.

Europe’s corporate bond market may be in a shabby state, but bankers are expecting a crop of public and private deals from a prestigious group of borrowers: UK universities and charities, write Rob Cooke and Toby Fildes.

While almost all financial markets have been stricken with fear so far this year, Europe's leveraged loan market has been surprisingly buoyant, with a healthy flow of deals and plenty of interest from investors — though the sister high yield market is a desert. Max Bower and Victor Jimenez report.

Investment grade corporate bond issuers are running scared of primary markets, leading to one of the worst starts to the year in living memory. The gloom may well spread through February, writes Ross Lancaster.

The global sell-off in commodities and stocks has brought the US corporate bond market to a standstill, leaving corporate issuers unsure about when they can tap the market after the only trade of the week stumbled and AB InBev’s $46bn blockbuster continued to underperform.

As WTI and Brent crude oil prices slip down below $30, high yield analysts are pointing at Spain’s oil producer Repsol as the first European company that could cross over into the sub-investment grade market.

The Chinese Panda bond market has gone from strength to strength since its revival last September with the Province of British Columbia (BC) becoming the latest to issue, raising Rmb3bn ($456m) on Thursday. While plenty more sovereign and financial deals are being lined up, the future does not look bright for red chip companies. Carrie Hong and Rev Hui report.